[Adopted 12-31-1981 by L.L. No. 1-1981; amended in its entirety 4-16-1985 by L.L. No. 2-1985]
The Town Board holds as a necessary objective
forming a group whose existence is predetermined by reference in the
franchising agreement between the Town of Woodstock and Time Warner.
This group will advise the Town Board and the residents of the Town
of Woodstock in matters relating to Time Warner, on request or at
its own initiative.
The Town Board of the Town of Woodstock hereby
creates a commission which shall be known as the "Woodstock Cable
Commission," hereinafter called "WCC."
The WCC shall consist of seven members appointed
by the Town Board and serving at the pleasure of the Town Board. Town
Board members may serve as additional nonvoting ex officio members.
Only persons residing within the Town of Woodstock shall be eligible
for appointment as members of the WCC. The terms of appointment shall
be as follows: three members shall be appointed to hold office for
a term of three years, two members shall be appointed to hold office
for a term of two years, and two members shall be appointed to hold
office for a term of one year. All subsequent appointments, other
than appointments to fill vacancies occurring other than by the expiration
of a term of office, shall be made for a term of three years. A vacancy
occurring other than by the expiration of a term of office shall be
filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
A.
The WCC shall, by majority vote, designate, subject
to approval by the Town Board, two members, one of whom is to act
as Chairman and the other of whom is to act as Vice Chairman.
A.
A recording secretary may be hired by the Town Board on recommendation of the WCC and reimbursed from the Commission's annual operating budget (A 1651 - General Fund). The recording secretary shall keep accurate records of the meetings and activities of the Commission, shall maintain the files of the Commission, and shall ensure the filing of an annual report, as provided in § 43-16 of this article.
B.
For purposes of control and continuity, the master
file for the WCC will be maintained in the office of the Town Clerk.
A current activities file for aid-to-construction projects will be
kept by the secretary to the Town Supervisor.
The WCC shall:
A.
Provide guidance and advice to the Town Board by reporting
on and making recommendations on Time Warner service expansion and
renegotiation of franchise. In addition, material on radio, security
systems, telephone, computers and fire/highway/constabulary information
systems, in the form of minutes and special reports, shall be provided,
as needed, to the Supervisor, Town Board, Building Inspector, Zoning
Board of Appeals and Planning Board Chairman, as well as Commission
members.[1]
B.
Monitor service on the cable by checking signal quality
by connecting to test points provided by Time Warner for that purpose
and reporting to the Town Board and WCC members on any subscriber-initiated
complaints that may be referred to the WCC by the secretary to the
Town Supervisor.[2]
D.
Supplement the franchising agreement with rules, regulations
and procedures for the aid-to-construction projects, these regulations
to be kept on file with the Town Clerk and made available to potential
subscribers and Town residents, content to be determined by the WCC.
E.
Draft legislation or assist the Town Board in drafting
legislation on matters relating to WCC areas of expertise and jurisdiction.
F.
Recommend consultants, contractors and other organizations
to the Town Board and assist in interviewing said persons or groups,
where professional or experienced service is of importance in achieving
results with benefit to the Town's cablevision service and communications
network.
G.
Maintain and update a file on WCC activities, franchise
agreements, cable newsletters, subscriber complaints, etc. This file
is intended to serve as reference material for future franchising
negotiation, providing guidance for the expansion of the cable system
and local origination channel activities. Space shall be provided
in the Town offices for this purpose. The WCC shall be consulted in
the application and interpretation of this material.
H.
Develop and conduct, subject to general approval by
resolution of the Town Board, a program of public information in the
community which shall be designed to foster increased understanding
of the nature of the WCC's aspects and needs, and to support their
solutions, as needed and appropriate.
I.
Carry out such other functions and duties as may from
time to time be assigned to the WCC by the Town Board.
The WCC shall keep accurate records of its meetings
and actions and shall file an annual report with the Town Board of
the Town of Woodstock on or before the 31st day of December of each
and every year. Said annual report shall disclose all activities conducted
by the WCC during the year being reported.
The members of WCC, including ex officio members,
shall receive no compensation for their services as members thereof;
however, said members may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary
expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, provided
that said reimbursements can be paid from the annual budget and appropriation
of the WCC.
